Sierra County advocate. [volume] (Kingston, N.M.) 1884-1960, 1887-08-05
The Art of Swimming.

sdTy dCCOLl pllsumcht VI oWluuiiIuS "A
American, who has more of the travel
ing mania than the native of any othe
country, should, by all means, be mas
ter of this. as he runs risk of sudder
immersion in water during his wander
ings, and should he bcno swimmer h,
has every chance of drowning. Anon!
civilized men, the proportion of thos
who swim to those who do not is les
than one-half Most ANIMALS wheI
thrown into the water will swim, ant
among savages the children are taugh
to swim at very early age The In
dian who could not swim would be ;
wonder to his tribe. And yet the ar
of swimming is easy to learn, little
confidence and care only being requir
ed. In this city of Boston, with its un
rivalled facilities for learning, less
than one-half are able to swim. APP
pended are few instructions, from the
observations and practical experience
Of a swimmer for many years, which
may be of benefit to those desiring to
learn, rs we'll as to faulty swimmers.
In the essential part of swimming,
that is, the art of keeping the head
above the water, there is really no skill
at ALL Confidence in the sustaining
power of the water is the only secret,
and if the novice will only dare to trust
n the water, and will remember a few
simple rules. he cannot possibly sink
below tho surface. These are the gold
IN rules of swimming: Keep the hands
and feet well below the surface, and
immerse the whole body up to the chin.
The reasons for this rule are simple and
based on common sense. Every one
with the least smattering of physical
science knows that the flatatlon of
various bodies is exactly in proportion
TO the quaint ty of water displaced. No
man can stand upright upon the water.
because the amount of water d splaced
by the soles of the feet would not
counteract the we ght of the body.
And it will be seen by the simple
carrying out of this principal, that ex-
actly in porpottion to the immersion
of the body is it sustained by the water.
All practical swimmers know that
when man swms with his head and
part of his shoulders out of water, he
cannot endure for any length of time,
because the force that ought to be used
in propulsion is wasted by sustaining
the body. Every inch of the body
raised above the surfac becomes dead
weight, pressing the body under water
and calling for great exertion on the
part of the swimmer Many persons
when they fall into the water plunge
about and try to lift themselves out of
it, acting as if they were attempting to
kneel upon the surface. This act on is
instructive, and is one of those where
instinct is inferior to reason. In fact.
ninety-nine out of every hundred who
perish in the water drown themselves
effectually as if they had tied heavy
weight about their necks. The weight
of the head, breast and arms of a hui
man being is, on the average, about
forty pounds, and when drowning
person lifts those portions above the
surface be practically acts as he would
were 40-pound weight placed on his
head. Every one who has attained
some knowledge of swimming, and
tries to hold one leg out of the water,
is made practically aware of this fact.
Hollow the spine and throw the back
of the head upon the shoulders. Like
all the rules in swimming this is found
ed upon common sense. Bulk for bulk
the body of an ordinary human being
is about the same as that of the water.
There are, however, two exceptional
portions, the head, which is somewhat
heavier, and the chest, VIII ch is some
what lighter. Any one will therefore
see that it is most essential to support
the former upon the latter, as well as
much as possible. By following the
back and throwing the back of the
head upon the shoulders. the heavy,
solid mass of the brain is supported by
the air-filled lungs, and the eyes and
nostrlls are kept above the surface.
AS to the mouth, that may be above or
below the surface. The chief object in
following the back is that it aids the
swimmer to float well, and keep the
nostrls out of the water.
Move the limbs quietly. A good
bW 10 dl OuSC W
the ease and quietude of all his move
ments. The arms and legs are flung
out to their fullest extent, sweep around
in the water equally, and are drawn
up for every stroke without the least
hurry. The slow stroke is the very es-
sence of good swimming. The racing
stroke, of course, is not in considera-
ton, for that must of necessity be
quick and powerful. but merely the
method of obtaining a good and endur-
ing style. The endurance of the long.
slow stroke is surprising, and its speed
by no means contemplate.
The beginner should first become
familiar with the buoydnt power of the
water, and to acquire this it would be
well to walk out into the water until II
is breast high and then. turning about,
launch himself, or make a SCOOP"
toward the shore. with arms and legs
extended at full lengh. There is no
danger in dong this where there are
no currents, rolling pillows or under
tows, for one can easily plant his feet
on the bottom if not confident. This
should be repeated several times, after
which a little pract ce in stroking, that
is, in movements of the arm and legs,
and with the necessary self-coniidence,
will give mastery over the art. With
plenty of practice one will become pro-
ficient and even expert Once per-
son is able to swim the breast stroke,
all other methods of swimming are at
hand. and require but little practice to